Abstract

This chapter introduces the privacy management framework as a means of studying patient-centered e-health. The chapter raises some important issues in regards to the privacy domain of e-health and offers a privacy framework to look at the issue that addresses some of the concerns people and industries have regarding privacy. The framework does not neglect the important distinction between the different interests affected by e-health. It acknowledges the voluntary nature of the way in which individuals have surrendered control over personal information in exchange for the benefits that information technology brings. Because the applications of information technology are logically malleable, there are sufficient strategic reasons to suggest that privacy management as a concept and practice will survive, and that to ignore privacy issues might be fatal for the success of PCEH.